Blog Post Eight: Neque and the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that language shapes culture. One great example of this is how certain languages never created words for different actions and as a result that action is not common or does not exist within that culture. Languages that have an emphasis on words like “we” and “us” also tend to form more collectivist cultures as opposed to languages emphasizing “me” and “I” forming individualistic cultures.


The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis can explain my communication with the children at Neque y Mas Neque in one very important way. Since I do not understand Spanish very well, I have a tougher time connecting with the culture and communicating, but as I continue to learn more and more Spanish I’ve noticed myself gaining the ability to connect with their culture on a deeper level. I’m still very much at the surface of the culture, but because the language helps to shape it, as I learn more I can continue to dig deeper and deeper.




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